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Do you marvel at the brilliance with which engineers alter the face of driving every day with each new car that enters the market? If you are a car enthusiast, then you are most certainly enticed by the revolutionary innovations the industry puts forth every day. With huge brands like BMW, Mercedes, and Audi devoting their attention to user experience and the complete satisfaction of customers, the automobile industry is in for a sea change.
Irrespective of the brand that built it, cars are inevitably subject to repairs every once in a while. Wear and tear, accidents, and other minor to severe damages are the nightmares of a car owner. Whether you give it to a service center or a local repair shop, it is important to understand the compatibility of the parts they fix and their effect on your car’s performance. In the automobile industry, the parts built by the manufacturers themselves are called ‘Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts’ and the others that imitate the OEM parts but not built by the brand are called ‘aftermarket parts’. These are the two options you have while replacing your car parts, with each impacting your vehicle differently.
Let us look at some of the differences between OEM parts and aftermarket parts.
- Manufacturer
Nothing fits your vehicle better than the parts manufactured by the brand. OEM car parts are made by the original manufacturer and thus make a perfect match for the specifications of the vehicle. This saves you the effort of comparing various aftermarket parts available in the market and above all, does not let you compromise on the quality of the new parts. Aftermarket parts are not made by the manufacturer, and their specifications are engineered to fit many types of vehicles. Therefore, despite imitating OEM car parts, they may not perfectly fit your car. This calls for more labor and time to make it fit right.
- Price
OEM car parts are generally much more expensive than aftermarket parts because they are built by the manufacturers and usually cost 60% more compared to aftermarket parts. As premium car brands come with expensive sensors and other electronic devices, a breakdown in these systems will definitely cost more expenses from the owner. But with the number of independent repair centers on the rise, more aftermarket parts are entering the market allowing people to spend less on repairs. The worst part is the number of times you will have to replace these parts due to poor quality.
- Resale Value
Since aftermarket parts may not be as competent as OEM car parts in providing the performance you desire, they have an adverse effect on the resale value of your vehicle. As they also do not last as long as OEM car parts, you are very likely to be penalized by the dealers when you attempt to sell your car. On the contrary, original OEM parts hold a reputation for giving high-quality performance and therefore help you with the resale value.
- Variety
There are several manufacturers of aftermarket parts in the market that would give you the same quality of OEM parts. This gives you multiple options to choose from and therefore demands a lot of research. If you are in pursuit of good aftermarket parts that will not leave a dent on your bank account but still serve your car well, read reviews, and ask for second opinions. The performance of your car will gradually diminish if your repair shop ends up fitting an incompatible aftermarket part. But OEM car parts just come in a single type and leaves you with no scope for making a choice.
- Warranty
OEM parts are covered by warranty programs that let you be at peace regarding the safety and performance of your vehicle. They have a 12-month, 12,000-mile warranty, which is one of the most compelling reasons to prefer OEM parts over aftermarket parts. If an OEM car part malfunctions, the manufacturer would be more than happy to offer support and replacement to a certain period. Aftermarket parts are not covered by warranty in order to sell at lower parts.
- Quality
OEM parts are genuine, updated, and pricy. The manufacturers have access to the model and therefore can test every part they manufacture, inspecting every fault it might incur. But this is a price you ought to pay for better quality and performance. The odds of an aftermarket part being incompatible or malfunctioning is not very sleek as cheap price can only get you so much quality.
The industry is now inundated with counterfeit automotive parts that do not meet the standards of the regulations. For example, fake manufacturers use sawdust or compressed grass to build brake pads. This will lead to the disintegration of the brake system due to pressure. OEM parts you need depends on the car you own. If you have a GM car that needs to be fixed, it is always recommended to go for genuine GM parts for better performance. Counterfeit automotive parts will never align with the needs of your vehicle. The idea is to not settle for sub-standard products for any part of your vehicle so that you get to keep a healthy car.
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